Entrepreneurship in Chicago is booming.
The innovation and overall ambition to perfect a “side hustle” in 2015 by Millennials citywide is nothing short of amazing.
The CEO of Mabbly—a digital branding agency in the city—wrote that “Chicago is going to be the next startup powerhouse for B2B innovation” in an Oct. 9 article on Entrepreneur.com. “Today’s young, up-and-coming Midwest talents have been influenced by the startup culture and have caught that contagious hunger,” He wrote. “But their grounded viewpoints and real-world experience support a more practical, problem-solving approach to entrepreneurship that appeals perfectly to the B2B marketplace.”
And here at RedEye, we can’t help but want to help young business-minded workhorses make their dreams a very physical and mental reality. We just had to be a part of it ourselves. So we created the Big Idea Awards last year, crowning four winners from a pool of 14 finalists in four different categories.
We paired each of them with successful mentors in their industries and awarded them prizes to help support and grow their ideas in the hopes that they’d become more than just great ideas.
And from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Morgan Manufacturing (401 N. Morgan) in Chicago, we’re set to do it all over again with a fresh batch of 14 passionate, eager entrepreneurs.
We’d love nothing more than for you to come out and be a part of the invigorating evening with us. Let’s support local startups together and see just how special some of these big ideas are, as well as their owners, who treat them as a labor of love.
Tickets are just $30 online at redeyechicago.com/bigidea, or $35 at the door. Each ticket comes with three drink tickets, appetizers and four poker chips to cast your vote in each category throughout the night. An after-party will be held at 10pin (330 N. State St.).
Meet the finalists in each of the four categories:
ART & DESIGN:
Joshua Griffith:
The Art of Fun Ultimate Fun Center: A “family fun” spot with attractions, entertainment and quality food
McKensie Mack:
This is Methodologie (T.I.M.): An experiential institute to aid in learning new languages
Joseph Prosnitz:
Up-Ride: A bicycle-to-elliptical conversion kit
Emma Robertson:
Troubadour Hostel: Chicago’s premiere artist hostel with boutique amenities
FOOD & DRINK:
Nina D’Angier:
Savory sprinkles: A line of savory sprinkles (salty, herb, spicy)
Jenna Douglas:
525 Executive Sweets: A storefront bakery and sweets truck with customized branded goodies for businesses and social events
Derrik Radja:
Shot glass holder, tray atop bucket of beers: A shot glass holder and tray that can be used by itself holding five shot glasses
Nikkita Randle:
Twisted Eggroll: A catering business for many different types of eggrolls, from cheesesteak to cheesecake
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:
James Lopez:
Expanding Chicago’s lacrosse reach: Bringing lacrosse programs, new fields to Chicago
Shayna Robinson:
Heartability: A support group for women with heart disease
Nicole Vasquez:
The Shift: Hyperlocal collaborative spaces in Chicago to work, learn and socialize
Demaris Webster:
Dark Horse: A mobile-based incentive program for academically at-risk students
TECHNOLOGY:
Bundo Onwueme:
Flight-Recon (Frecon): An app to help expedite rescheduling of airline flights
Marylynne Schwartz:
ClassCrasher: An aggregator of last-minute availability for kids classes
Meet the mentors in each of the four categories:
ART & DESIGN: Anna Hovet, founder and lead designer of Anna Hovet Designs
FOOD & DRINK: Justin Maynard, executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, and Kevin Cary, co-founder of Begyle Brewing and president of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Elliot Greenberger, general manager of Divvy in Chicago
TECHNOLOGY: Chris Taylor, general manager of Uber Chicago
Meet the keynote speaker:
Tom Alexander, chief operating officer at 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub and co-working space for digital startups.
Meet the host:
RedEye’s own multimedia producer Sean Ely, a local comedian and comedy writer who studies at The Second City Training Center, iO Chicago and The Annoyance Theatre. He is also the creator of the “Social Media Pessimist” web series.
